Psychology Graduate Student Supervision

The work you do with your supervisor(s) is a critical component of your graduate training.  While each supervisor-trainee relationship is unique, all supervisors are required to provide foundational elements of student training.  Please see Western’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies’ (SGPS) full list of expectations and requirements of graduate student supervisors here: https://grad.uwo.ca/administration/regulations/11.html

Here, we provide a partial list of requirements and expectations of supervisors excerpted from SGPS’s longer list.  These requirements are being highlighted to help students know what to expect in their interactions with supervisors.  If you feel your supervisor is not meeting these foundational standards, please make an appointment to speak with the Grad Chair. 

Supervisors must:

• provide continuous supervision through the duration of the student’s studies, including periods of supervisor absence from campus (e.g., maintaining full supervision during sabbatical; securing co- supervision if needed/appropriate).
• ensure regular meetings of the student with the full Thesis Supervisory Committee as per the program's and/or SGPS's regulations.
• actively involve the Thesis Supervisory Committee in the process of guiding the student.
• meet with their graduate student no later than one month after assignment of supervision, or initial registration as a student at Western, with the purpose of discussing and clarifying expectations for the role of the supervisor and the role of the student in the supervisory relationship.
• provide timely feedback on documents/reports/materials/scholarship applications – normally 2 weeks is reasonable for a thesis chapter or equivalent.
• provide a timely response (whether acknowledgment or a substantial reply) when contacted by students (e.g., responding to emails within 72 “work-week” hours).
• respect interpersonal boundaries and demonstrate professional behaviour with the student.
• respect appropriate times and means for communication with the student.
• as far as allowed by the logistics of the research setting, allow and respect the student’s right to set their own daily schedule.
• make good‐faith efforts to provide the resources needed for the student's work.

In addition to these requirements, supervisors are expected to:

• adhere to standards of ethical behaviour, academic integrity, and professionalism.
• commit the time, energy, and focus reasonably necessary to enable students to achieve the progress expected in their program.
• respect diversity and demonstrate intercultural competency.
• recognize the supervisor—student power differential and demonstrate respect for the student’s rights and academic and career goals.
• respect the student’s personal circumstances (e.g., the student’s need to fulfill personal obligations such as childcare).
• explicitly discuss with the student expectations regarding authorship on publications and ownership of intellectual property.

As a graduate student trainee, you are also subject to certain requirements.  Please see Western’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies’ (SGPS) full list of expectations and requirements of graduate students here: https://grad.uwo.ca/administration/regulations/11.html 

Students are reminded that our M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs require full-time study; hence, students are expected to be working on a full-time basis on their graduate studies. 

Here, we provide a partial list of requirements and expectations of graduate students excerpted from SGPS’s longer list. 

Students must:

• adhere to the program's progression requirements.
• be aware of the requirements and timelines of their program.
• adhere to all program and SGPS regulations.
• communicate regularly with the supervisor and the Thesis Supervisory Committee.
• give serious consideration and response to comments and advice from the supervisor and/or Thesis Supervisory Committee.
• set their own daily schedule within the logistics of the research setting, which includes working reasonable hours and informing their supervisors of any change in their schedule that could affect the work of others. 
• explore and articulate academic and career objectives and goals.
• notify the program of any request for accommodation.

In addition to these requirements, students are expected to:

• adhere to the highest standards of ethical behaviour, academic integrity, and professionalism.
• commit the time, energy, and focus necessary to achieve the progress expected in their program.
• give supervisor, Thesis Supervisory Committee members, and other faculty members sufficient notice and time to provide constructive feedback or to write thoughtful letters of reference.
• seek and give serious consideration to constructive feedback and advice.
• provide timely response (whether acknowledgment or a substantial reply) when contacted by supervisor or department, for example responding to emails within 72 hours.
• respect the work, environment, and equipment/materials of others, and show tolerance and respect for others sharing the same environment, equipment and materials.
• openly discuss with the supervisor expectations regarding authorship on publications and ownership of intellectual property.

Your supervisory committee serves the important purpose of providing additional guidance and oversight of your scholarly development.  Oftentimes committee members augment the expertise of your supervisor to provide additional breadth of expertise in domains relevant to your program of research.  Despite the name of the committee, members’ involvement in your training is not intended to be limited solely to your thesis; ideally, these faculty members are a resource for guidance in your career development broadly defined.  Students are encouraged to develop and maintain connections with their Thesis Supervisory Committee members above and beyond required committee meetings.    

Please refer to this section of the website for more details regarding your committees:

https://psychology.uwo.ca/graduate/program_information/thesis_committee_and_orals.html